Chain clamp



Aug- 4, 1931. E. KEssLER E1' AL 1,817,628

CHAIN CLAMP Filed Sept. 19, 1928 @yy "l .//S/A//J//m 24 a i za/ "Z 26 1 0 5g/91751924 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED stares;

EMIL KESSLER ANDzICI-IARLES H. J'AflVJESL0E;BILOOKIIYNQ.NEWl YORK .CHAIN onAMB- Application filed September 19,1928.l Serial No. 30(A5`, 833. v

This invention relates to clamping declamps.

@ne object ofthe invention is to providerl i5 an improved devlceofthecharacter described which comprises few and simple parts, C is inexpensive to manufacture, rugged 1n construction, and reliable and efficient to a high degree in use.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide an improved chain clamp which is adapted for quantity production and in which the various stresses are properly tak en up, while the clamp itself is maintained -5" of a very simple nature.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

Vvith the aforesaid objects in View, the '2G' invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter cescribed in their preferred embodiments,

pointed out in the subjoined claim, and ily lustrated on the annexed drawings, wherein 25A like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View in elevation of 30 a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device showing in dotted lines a different operating position of the handle.

Fig. i is a fragmentary view of a chain with the clamp in position thereon.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that ythe same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliiieation of the invention.

Generally described, the invention provides ai chain clampwhich is adapted to function in conjunctionwith chains of;P the type that are used on trucks andthe like.` (ccasi'onallyfax chainof the type referredlto breaks, and"y iny that event, it isv necessary to 55,* pull the-adj acent ends ofthe chain together-f and then tov4 connect a new`A set ofi' parts co` replace thosethat were broken. llt has-'been' found that this is ordinarily veryu trouble- A, some, requiring agreat dealoff effort and 6o exertion. By this invention, the broken' chain can hel readily drawn together and repaired. The devicecan be readily mountff edfupon the chain and byv` aL ver-y simplel M movement renderedi effective to exert ahigh degree ofi tension onthe ChainsoiasY toer-etainthe adjacent endsthereofC in any de'- sired` position with respect: toeach other, thus facilitating the operation`- of repairing the chain. 7c Referring-` inA detail? tol they drawings, 10` denotes a device embodying` the-- invention. The samel includes a` pair off j'awmembers. 1%1. and? l2.; which are essentially similar` in construct-ion.. These-'members can beg cast 75 exactly alike,- wherebylthedeviceis adapted for quantity production; Each includesa` curved hookv 18"which1is of:Y a radius suffrcient to enable the, hook to properly take around archer-*121 offthecha-in- 15; Thesaid so" hooksare" mountedl upon. straight shanks 116 which lie in the same planeand extend toward' one another. At thei'rfends thesaid shanks terminatelin hubs 17` and 18.V The latter extendv t'o one side of thee plane-A of 85'" the shanks liandareoppositjely related to) said plane with respect to said hooks 13'. TheA hub 18- has a smooth walled hol`eg19- therein, while the hub 17 hasy a threaded4 hole 20. Passingfreelyfthrough-thehole-19, 90* is a screw member 21 which has threaded engagement in the hole 20. Thus while the hubs 17 andL 18 are in alinement witheach other, the screw 21] extends,v in par@ M allelism-y to the shanks 16'. It willfbenoted that the axis of the screw is in relatively closelprox-imity tothe shankslG, thus/makingforza 'compactt'ool The screw 21-'hasa square head 22 which hasbear-ing relation M with the-hublfas, for'example', by means of a washer 23. To turn the screw, a liandle 24 is provided which includes a yoke structure 25 between the arms 26 of which the head 22 is slidingly received. A pin 27 passes through the head 22 and the arms 26 so as to form a swivel connection between the handle 24 and the screw 21. Vhile the handle 24 may extend in alinement with the screw 21 as shown in Fig. 1, nevertheless when the said screw is to be turned, the handle is swung about the pin 27 into a position as shown in Fig. 3, thus furnishing a leverage to facilitate the turning of the screw. By this invention kthe handle 24 is in each case manipulated through an angle of 180O after which it is swung about the pin 27 and' againturned through an angle of 1800. To limit the relative movement as between the screw 2l and the hub 18, stop means is provided which may be of any suitable form and may be embodied, for example, in a plurality of lock nuts 28, 29 which are jammed up against one another, making a slight clearance with the hub 18 to facilitate the free turning of the screw 21.

The use of the device will now be clearly apparent. Referring to Fig. 4, we show a drive chain 15 of the type that is usually used in trucks. The saine comprises a plurality of links 30. A pair of links are disposed in side by side relation and have mounted therebetween a pair of rollers 14, each of which is disposed at an end of the unit. The said rollers are journaled on shafts 3l which extend through the said links 30. nterconnecting the units are a plurality of links 32, one of which is positioned at each side of the chain, the said links 32 engaging the ends of adjacent shafts 31 and being held in position thereon by pins 33. rlhe chain clamp 10 is used, for example, when one of the links 82 breaks in which case the hooks 13 are placed over a pair `of remote rollers 14, after which the handle 24 is Amanipulated to turn the screw 21, causing the hooks 13 to move together and bring a high degree of tension to bear upon the chain. This draws the ends of the chain Vtogether into any desired spaced relation,

permitting a new set of links 82 to be readily slipped in place and secured by the pins 33. Thereafter the handle 24 is again manipulated and the screw 21 turned in a reverse direction, releasing the clamp 10 from the chain.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a device which fulfills the several objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

1V e claim:

A device of the .character described, including a plurality of hooks having elongated shanks extending toward each other along a substantially straight line, said shanks terminating in hubs which in the collapsed position of the device are in relatively close proximity to each other, said hubs having alined openings, a screw in said openings coacting with the hubs to move said hooks relatively of each other, the axis of the screw being substantially parallel t0 the shanks, and means for turning the screw, the length of the screw and said means being in the said collapsed position substantially equal tothe length ofthe hooks and Shanks, the axis of the screw being in relative proximity to said shanks, and said means being pivotally connected to the screw to move into a position at an angle therewith orto lie along the axis of the screw in the collapsed position of the device.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

EMIL KESSLER. CHARLES H. JAMES. 

